10 Stunning North American Train Trips to Take Now

Love the idea of a road trip but don’t want to be stuck behind the wheel the whole time? Think train trips instead! We’re sharing 10 of our favorites to inspire you. Check them out!

Train trips are one of the best ways to see the sights in North America. You don’t have to do the driving, so you can just back and take in the beauty! Here are some North American train trips that you can take now. The journeys are divided into 2 sections- multi-day trips for those who are adventurous and single-day tips for those who want to see the sights, but aren’t fond of traveling great distances!

9. Grand Canyon Railway

About- The Grand Canyon Railway was built in 1898 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

10. Amtrak Ethan Allen Express

Route- From New York City to Rutland, Vermont

Travel time- 5.5 hours (one way)

About- This tour takes you through gorgeous views of upstate New York and Vermont. Along the way, you’ll see miles of wilderness, including the scenic Hudson River Valley.

Now that we have some great train trips in mind, let’s check out a few must-know tips to make the most of your adventure!

Must-Know Train Travel Tips

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First, try saying “train travel tips” 10 times fast, I dare you! I can’t even say it once! Okay, so before you head out on your adventure by train, there are a few things to know to make it the best journey ever.

Pack snacks! Even though many of these trains offer food service, your choices may be limited (or insanely expensive). Opt for light and healthy snacks. You don’t want heavy cakes sitting in your belly making you uncomfortable during your trip!

Dress for comfort. If you’re taking a train to a fancy place, you can always get changed right before you reach your destination. Stick to stretchy yoga pants and comfy layers.

Splurge on a sleeper cabin for multi-day trips. You’ll be thankful you did! If you’re just taking a day trip, splurge on the best seats that you can afford.

Charge your phone before you go. Finding charging outlets can be a challenge on some trains. If you’re going to be using your phone as a camera along the way, I also recommend bringing along a little power bank (fully charged, of course).

Know the luggage rules before you pack. If you’re just taking a day trip, a carry-on bag is more than enough. For longer trips, or if you’ll be staying at the final destination for a few days, you can typically check one or two bags for free. You’ll also want to check over the list of banned items. Just like planes, trains tend to prohibit things like sharp objects and excess amounts of liquid or perishables.

Have you ever taken any of these train trips? Are there any others that you recommend? Share below!

3 thoughts on “10 Stunning North American Train Trips to Take Now”

Love this. Living in Europe we’ve gotten used to training around versus flying even with the number of discount airlines. I’d love to come back home to the States and randomly pick one of these train journeys to get a fresh perspective on the US.